Wilson County, North Carolina Eviction Risk: Low

Wilson County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.8/10, placing it in the Elevated tier and ranking it 5th of 100 counties across North Carolina, meaning only 4 counties in the state present higher risk to landlords. With roughly 49.2% of residents renting and a poverty rate of 24.2%, the county's fundamentals create persistent collection pressure across all 10 incorporated places. Average rent sits at $958 per month, and renters dedicate an average of 28.8% of their income to housing, a burden level that leaves little cushion when household finances shift.

The county-wide average of 2.8/10 conceals meaningful spread. Individual city scores range from 2.3 to 3.1, a gap wide enough to move a portfolio from manageable to genuinely difficult depending on which ZIP codes an investor targets. Landlords evaluating Wilson County should treat it not as a single market but as a cluster of distinct micro-markets that require separate underwriting.

The cities inside Wilson County

The highest-risk concentration sits in the city of Wilson itself, which scores 2.8/10 and is home to roughly 48,370 residents, the overwhelming majority of the county's 57,575 total population. That score puts Wilson at the top of the county's risk range. Sharpsburg follows at 2.3/10 (population 1,605), and Black Creek and Eureka each score 3/10. Lucama comes in at 2.9/10, while Stantonsburg and Sims both register 2.8/10. Kenly, with a population of 2,359, scores 2.8/10, sitting toward the lower-risk end of the county spectrum.

The lowest score in the county belongs to Sharpsburg at 2.3/10 (population 1,292), a meaningful 1.5-point gap below the county leader. That spread underscores how hyper-local eviction risk can be: two properties a short drive apart can carry noticeably different delinquency and eviction profiles. Investors should pull city-level scores before finalizing any Wilson County acquisition rather than relying on the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Wilson County is subject to N.C.G.S. § 42 (Landlord and Tenant), which sets the procedural framework for all evictions in the state. For nonpayment of rent, North Carolina eviction laws requires a 10-day notice to quit under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-3. A material lease breach or holdover tenancy allows immediate action with no advance notice period. Month-to-month tenancies require a 7-day notice to terminate under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14. Understanding the North Carolina eviction process is essential here: once notice lapses, an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days, while a contested matter can extend to 45 to 100 days. Court filing fees run $150 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add another $30 to $125, and attorney fees commonly range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. For a full picture of what landlords spend end-to-end, the breakdown of North Carolina eviction costs is worth reviewing before pricing your vacancy risk. On the regulatory side, North Carolina eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal and state law preempts local rent control ordinances, leaving no city or county in the state free to cap rents.

With a poverty rate of 24.2% and nearly half of all households renting, Wilson County's underlying fundamentals keep eviction risk elevated across most of its 10 cities; the city-level score grid above is the most reliable starting point for comparing specific investment locations within the county.